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Transcript of

George Pycroft, M.R.C.S. [Obituary]

by

Rev. W. Harpley, M.A.

Trans. Devon. Assoc. 1894, Vol XXVI, pp. 49-50.

Prepared by Michael Steer

The obituary was read at the Association’s July 1894 South Molton meeting. The Times for April 4, 1894, pg. 10; Issue 34229, provides the following obituary for Mr Pycroft with some additional information to that appearing in the Association’s Transactions. Mr. George Pycroft M.R.C.S.E., L.S.A., late of Kenton, Devon, who died a few days ago, at Torquay, was one of the initiators of the Volunteer movement of 1852–3. When the idea of starting a Volunteer corps of riflemen occurred to Dr. Bucknill, Mr. Pycroft and Mr. G. Haydon were the two friends whom he consulted before asking Lord Fortescue's sanction to his scheme. After recruiting for the 1t Devon Rifles Mr. Pycroft joined the 1st D.A.V., in which he continued to serve till he left Devonshire in 1887 with the rank of surgeon-major. Mr. Pycroft was also well known in Devonshire as a lover of art and science ad was one of the promoters of the Art Department of the Bath and West of England Society, and was the author of "Art in Devon" and of a Life of Samuel Cousins, R.A. He was a brilliant and popular lecturer on subjects connected with art and science, and was the anonymous author of the skit, "A Recent Bone Case—Owen versus Huxley," mentioned in Darwin's Life. He also helped to found the Devon Association for the Advancement of Science and Art. The article, from a copy of a rare and much sought-after journal can be downloaded from the Internet Archive. Google has sponsored the digitisation of books from several libraries. These books, on which copyright has expired, are available for free educational and research use, both as individual books and as full collections to aid researchers
 

George Pycroft, M.R.C.S., was a native of Corsham in Somersetshire, and was born in 1819. About half a century ago he came to Kenton, near Exeter, and acquired the practice of Dr. Collins, who had for fifty years previously been the medical man of the neighbourhood. Mr. Pycroft remained in practice until about five years since, when he retired, and went to reside at Richmond. He was one of the original members of this Association, and in its earlier years took a lively interest in its proceedings. He contributed to the pages of the Transactions in 1872, and again in 1881 and 1882.

Mr. Pycroft was a man of handsome presence. As a medical adviser he was skilful, cheery, and kind. He was, too, an ardent lover of art, and himself no mean student. His work, Art in Devon, in which he gives the names and some account of the work of the chief artists of Devon - his desire being to "keep green the memory of the good artists of Devonshire" - is one of high interest, and, had he done nothing else, would have entitled him to gratitude.

Mr. Pycroft did something besides. He helped to bring into life the Volunteer movement of the country. Three men met at dinner at Exminster on the night of the 27th January, 1852 - Dr. (now Sir T.) Bucknill, Mr. Pycroft, and Mr. George H. Haydon. Dr. Bucknill consulted the others on the draft of a letter he had prepared for submission to the then Lord Fortescue - Lord Lieutenant - setting out reasons why it was desirable to establish corps of riflemen in England, and asking Lord Fortescue, if he approved, to influence Lord Palmerston's Government. The letter was in due course dispatched, the sympathy of the Lord Lieutenant gained, and the approval of the Government won. Two months later - though there had been a change of Ministries meanwhile - Mr. Walpole, as Secretary for War, intimated the Queen's acceptance of the services of the Exeter and South Devon Corps. So the Volunteer movement began. Mr. Pycroft undertook recruiting at Exmouth. He joined the Artillery, and at his death held the rank of Surgeon-Major.

Some little time before his death Mr Pycroft had a severe attack of bronchitis, from which he recovered; but later, while staying at Torquay, he had a second attack, to which he succumbed on Friday, March 23rd, 1894, at the age of 74. He was buried at Mamhead. Mr. Pycroft was twice married. B